'Second Hand Bandit' convicted of bank robberies

Tribune illustration

Tribune illustration

Annie SweeneyTribune reporter

A federal jury convicted Joseph Banks of bank robbery Thursday after a dramatic trial in which he represented himself and at one point had to be restrained to a chair because he was threatening to leave the courtroom.

The jury deliberated about four hours before finding Banks guilty of two bank robberies and two attempted holdups. He made off with a combined nearly $600,000 in the heists, authorities said.

Security was beefed up with 10 deputy U.S. marshals in the courtroom when the guilty verdict was announced. Banks showed little reaction except to persist in trying to outline the litany of injustices he claimed he suffered.

"I'll be seeking retribution as well as damages," he told U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer.

The judge calmly asked him how long he needed to submit a filing outlining his concerns.

"No motion will be filed, but you'll hear from me," he replied.

At the time of his arrest in 2008, relatives said Banks was an aspiring clothing designer, yet the FBI labeled him the Second Hand Bandit because he wore used clothes during the robberies. Authorities suspected him in as many as 21 holdups but charged him in just the four.

Banks chose to wear an orange prison jumpsuit during the four-day trial, but he showed up Thursday dressed in a stylish double-breasted gray suit and open-collared shirt for his closing argument. He finally had to be cut off by Pallmeyer, who told him he was only allowed to discuss evidence in his remarks and not tell a "story" to the jury.

When Assistant U.S. Attorney Renato Mariotti began his closing remarks, Banks interrupted repeatedly with commentary on the evidence, suggesting the photo lineups were rigged and asking about the FBI agent who prepared them.

"Answer the question, Mariotti," he said.

Pallmeyer continued to admonish Banks. Meanwhile, Mariotti stayed his course, pushing through his closing, his own voice rising over the interruptions to remind the jury of the evidence at trial, including $40,000 recovered from Banks' safe deposit box as well as a fake beard he wore in the robberies.

Though Pallmeyer had a lawyer on standby for Banks, he never took advantage of the help.

Security footage played for jurors showed Banks jumping bank counters and wielding a handgun as he ordered employees to open vaults and ATMs at the banks. In one video, a bank worker was shown hyperventilating on the floor of a cash room, clutching his chest and neck.